Dallas Cowboys at Indianapolis Colts
Kickoff 11/8/2026, 12:00:00 PM CST · Lucas Oil Stadium
Group not verified / Group not verified · Week 9
Article published 10/13/2026, 12:19:53 PM CDT · last material update 10/13/2026, 12:19:53 PM CDT
Dallas Cowboys
25.2PROJECTION
Indianapolis Colts
26.3Model projections are estimates. Forecast timestamp 10/11/2026, 2:14:37 PM CDT · feature-data cutoff 10/11/2026, 2:14:37 PM CDT. Verified stored season-to-date statistics; descriptive comparisons are separate from the original scoring-model feature window. Comparison snapshot 10/13/2026, 12:19:53 PM CDT.
Official betting selection
Awaiting Odds
The model projection is available, but no eligible verified sportsbook offer has produced a locked official selection.
Team statistics & league rankings
Season-to-date comparison · ranks use covered teams within NFL · #1 is best for each metric.
| Metric | Dallas Cowboys | Indianapolis Colts |
|---|---|---|
| Points / game | 27.6#7 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 24.8#11 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Points allowed / game | 27.2#25 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 27.6#27 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Total yards / game | 364.4#15 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 311.8#26 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Yards allowed / game | 405.0#28 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 422.3#31 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Passing yards / game | 276.2#7 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 188.5#27 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Rushing yards / game | 81.6#28 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 109.5#15 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Yards / play | 5.93#14 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 4.93#31 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Yards allowed / play | 6.53#30 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 6.65#32 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Third-down conversion | 49.2%#4 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 35.3%#25 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Third-down conversion allowed | 52.6%#32 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 30.5%#4 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Turnovers / game | 1.00#10 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 2.00#27 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Takeaways / game | 0.40#32 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 0.50#29 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Offensive EPA / play | 0.127#7 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | -0.051#21 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| EPA allowed / play | 0.180#32 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 0.085#28 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Offensive success rate | 47.9%#4 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 41.9%#17 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Success rate allowed | 51.0%#32 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 43.8%#21 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Red-zone scoring rate | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Turnover differential / game | -0.60#24 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | -1.50#32 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Defensive sacks / game | 1.00#28 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 2.25#13 of 32 covered teams · 4 games |
| Tackles for loss / game | Unavailable | Unavailable |
| Passing EPA / pass play | 0.202#7 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | -0.161#28 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Rushing EPA / rush play | -0.013#11 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 0.097#3 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Explosive-play rate | 7.5%#26 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 9.3%#15 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Sacks suffered / pass play | 3.0%#2 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 4.9%#8 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| QB hits / pass play | 15.0%#11 of 32 covered teams · 5 games | 14.6%#8 of 32 covered teams · 5 games |
| Adjusted strength of schedule | Unavailable | Unavailable |
Statistical advantages
Dallas Cowboys has the higher observed scoring average: Dallas Cowboys scores 27.6 points per game and Indianapolis Colts scores 24.8, a 2.8-point difference. These are unadjusted season averages, not an estimate of this game's winning margin.
Dallas Cowboys allows 27.2 points per game, compared with 27.6 for Indianapolis Colts. Dallas Cowboys has the stronger defensive scoring figure by 0.4 points per game. Opponent quality and game situations can affect this comparison; a better raw rank is not proof of a better adjusted defense.
Dallas Cowboys's offense produces 364.4 yards per game; Indianapolis Colts's defense has conceded 422.3. The 57.9-yard difference compares two observed averages rather than predicting a yardage total. Dallas Cowboys averages 5.93 yards per play, which puts it #14 among 32 covered teams.
Key matchup factors
Indianapolis Colts's offense produces 311.8 yards per game; Dallas Cowboys's defense has conceded 405.0. The 93.3-yard difference compares two observed averages rather than predicting a yardage total. Indianapolis Colts averages 4.93 yards per play, which puts it #31 among 32 covered teams.
Third-down conversion is another measurable difference: Dallas Cowboys records 49.2%, while Indianapolis Colts records 35.3%. Higher is better for this metric. Compare the sample counts in the table before treating a difference as stable.
Offensive EPA / play is another measurable difference: Dallas Cowboys records 0.127, while Indianapolis Colts records -0.051. Higher is better for this metric. Compare the sample counts in the table before treating a difference as stable.
The stored production forecast is Dallas Cowboys 25.2, Indianapolis Colts 26.3. Indianapolis Colts is projected to win by 1.1 points. SE v3.0 uses recent team and opponent profiles rather than just the full-season averages shown here. The NFL model includes home/away context; an independently attributable home-field point adjustment is not exposed for this game, so none is claimed.
Saved sportsbook observations
Spread unavailable
Total unavailable
Observed Not verified. Saved market observations can differ from the original locked betting line.
Final model assessment
Indianapolis Colts is the projected winner in the original stored scoring forecast, with a 1.1-point margin and 51.4 combined points. The comparisons above describe the scoring, defensive and efficiency context for this matchup. The official selection, when published, remains the specific wager in the tracker.
Explore this matchup
Game previews · Spreadsheet entry · Tracked betting record
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Definitions, coverage & original timestamps
Game ID nfl:2026_09_DAL_IND. Article creation is not the original prediction timestamp. Original forecast 10/11/2026, 2:14:37 PM CDT; final stored pregame forecast 10/11/2026, 2:14:37 PM CDT. Rates use summed observed numerators and denominators; game averages use games with that statistic. Rankings use competition ties within the covered league population. NFL data uses regular-season games. EPA / play uses observed PBP EPA counts; success means positive EPA. Explosive plays use the source aggregation’s 20-yard passing / 10-yard rushing thresholds. CFB red-zone scoring includes field goals and touchdowns; a different NFL red-zone rate is not substituted. Quarterback hit rate is a hit proxy, not a complete pressure rate. Missing adjusted strength of schedule, pressure rates or archived inputs remain unavailable.